The energy efficiency sector has had a healthy injection of venture capital over the past 18 months. In Q2, investment in energy efficiency accounted for almost a quarter of cleantech venture capital commitments (Cleantech Group). It is an increasingly appealing sector for VCs in the ongoing difficult economic climate: asset light business models and more predictable return over shorter time-frames — with some compelling growth drivers.

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In Europe, the European Commission has mandated a 20% reduction in energy consumption by 2020, but the biggest impact on the sector has been the disaster in Fukushima and the subsequent decision by the German government to close down all nuclear power stations by 2022.

Swiss-based VC firm Mountain Cleantech, which is focused on the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), says this factor alone is now the most significant driver of investment in energy efficient technology, and more specifically in the smart grid, in the region. Reducing and managing consumption will be key to its successful transition to cleaner and safer sources of energy.